I can’t support the kids I have living at home while making minimum wage. I depend on government assistance, and that is not right. I want to have a decent amount of money to support my family and not depend on anyone. Every job should be paying enough money to cover the basic things in life.

— Suzanne Kahil, who’s paid $9.32/hour at a Bellevue Jack-in-the-Box.

The state announced today that our state minimum wage is going up by a whopping 15 cents to $9.47 an hour — a nickel and a dime. That’s less than $400 a week, before taxes - if you work full time. It may be the highest in the country, but it’s not enough.

Nine dollars and some change won’t let us meet our basic needs, support ourselves, and contribute to the economy. So let’s tell our state legislators what we think the state minimum wage should be.

I always struggle to pay my bills. I work 60-80 hours a week, and it’s still not enough. I had to go to the food bank three times in the last two months because I don’t have enough money for food. I’m tired of being treated this way — we all are.

— Genesee Etter, a homecare aide who is paid minimum wage for her work caring for elderly and disabled people in Vancouver

Workers in Seattle and SeaTac fought for and won $15. Workers in Bellevue and beyond have started taking actions to fight for a better minimum wage as well. We are rising all across the state and our legislators need to hear from us.

About Working Washington: Our mission is to build a powerful workers’ movement that can not only dramatically improve wages and working conditions, but can also change the local and national conversation about wealth, inequality, and the value of work. More info…

Our mission is to build a powerful workers’ movement that can not only dramatically improve wages and working conditions, but can also change the local and national conversation about wealth, inequality, and the value of work.

Working Washington fast food strikers sparked the fight that won Seattle's landmark $15 minimum wage. We drove Amazon to sever ties with right-wing lobby group ALEC and improve conditions in their sweatshop warehouses. And we helped lead the winning campaign in SeaTac for a $15 living wage.